Fruit-packing device.



P. B. PEASB. FRUIT PACKING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED 11,511.14, 1907.

Patented Nov. 9i 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

inTNEssEs; A INVENTOR:

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P. B. PHASE.

FRUIT PACKING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAB..14, 1907.

939,740. Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. WITNEssEs: INvENTR:

FRANKLIN B. PEASE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-PACKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application le. March 14, 1907. Serial No. 362,365.

To alt whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANKLIN B. Pnnsn, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and tate of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-PackingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit packing devices, and consists in theapparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

rlhe object of the invention is to provide means for placing a layer ofregularly arranged fruit, such as apples, in the end of a receptacle,such as a barrel.

In the apparatus herein set forth a layer of apples is placed in a trayset on a standard, and a barrel, closed atone end and open at the other,is placed over the tray, and is pressed down on the tray; then the trayand barrel are held in this position by hand, or by a lock or clamp, sothat the apples are held snugly against the head at the closed end ofthe barrel; then the standard and tray are removed from the barrel andthe apples so placed against the head remain in position in closecontact with each other and with the head of the barrel.

i Wlhen the tray holds the apples so that they are crowded together asthey are brought close to the head, a very perfect packing occurs.

The use of this apparatus obviates the necessity of reaching to thebottom of the barrel in placing the first layer of apples therein, andalso packs the apples more evenly and lirmly than can be done withoutapparatus, and with less liability to damage.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying thisinvention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device, portions beingbroken away to show the construction more clearly; Fig. 3 is across-section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. '2; Fig. 4 is a verticalsection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of amodified form of the apparatus in the erect position; and Fig. 6 is avertical section of the same apparatus in the reversed position.

The device as here illustrated comprises, in the main, a support orstandard and a holder or tray for apples.

The apparatus of Figs. 1-4 will be described irst. The support 1 is seton legs 2,

2, which are fixed in a base 3. On one of said legs is a block 4 nearthe top. On the lower part of two of the legs are blocks 5, 5. On thethird leg is a bar 6 rigidly held at its upper end by, bolts or rivets7, but free at its lower end. A cam S pivoted to the leg actuates thebar 6. When released, said bar will return to the position shown, beingmade sufficiently elastic for this purpose. The support 1, legs 2, 2,and base 3 constitute one form of a standard suitable for this device.The support 1 is narrower at the front edge than at the rear (Fig. 1),and constitutes a wedge. Guides 9 are fixed to the under side of a board10 at a proper distance apart to engage the edges of the said wedge 1and to hold said board firmly upon it. A suitable latch 11 (Fig. 4) setin a block 12 carried by the support 1, is adapted to enter a socket onthe under side of the board 10 and prevents the latter from sliding offthe support. A board 13, in width equal to the diameter of a barrelhead, and in length slightly greater, is fixed upon the upper side ofthe board 10, and from it depend studs 14. Said studs project through aring 15, which rests upon springs 16. The springs 16 rest in turn uponwashers 17 on the lower ends of the studs 14. rIhe ring 15 is,therefore, eXibly supported by the board 13, and may be depressed withreference thereto. A rim 18, preferably of metal, is fastened around thering 15, and is of such height as to project above the board 13.

The method of using the device is as follows: A number of holders ortrays, (said trays comprising the boards 10 and 13 and the rim 18, etc.)are each filled with a layer of selected apples, as indicated by, dottedlines in Fig. 2. The packer then slides one tray upon the support 1, andthe latch 11 locks it in place. He then takes an empty barrel, which hasone head removed, and rests the upper edge upon the block 4. (See dottedlines X, Fig. 2). The barrel may then be slipped over the rim 18 anddropped down until said rim touches its sides. It will then rest in theposition shown by dotted lines Y, and the blocks 5 and bar 6 center it.The packer then presses the barn rel downward, and the rim 18 and ring15, by contact with the inside of the barrel, are carried downwardagainst the action of the springs 16. The board 13 remains stationary(being fixed to the support l), and the apples are thus forced upwardinto close contact with the barrel head, and, owing to the convergingsides of the barrel, are also forced close against each other. Thepacker nextdepresses the cam 8 with his foot, which action forces thebar 6 against the inside of the barrel, and the inverted barrel is thuslocked, to the standard and tray When the tray is adjacent to the bottomor head of the barrel, in the depressed position. Then, grasping thebarrel in any convenient many ner, he inverts it, together with theapparatus Within. Unlocking the cam 8 and bar G by hand, he lifts theWhole device With the tray attached thereto out of the barrel, and thefruit is left tightly packed against the barrel head. The trayI may beleft on the support and refilled, or may be removed by releasing thelatch 11 and sliding the tray ofi the support 1. A full tray may then beplaced in position and the operation repeated.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the locking device above mentioned is omitted, and themeans for fastening the tray to the top of the standard. The tray is thesame in all other respects, but a single support or standard 20 is fixedto the bottom of the tray, and is adapted to set in a socket 21 in asuitable support, such as the block 22. The standard 20 is preferablylong enough to project from the barrel when the tray is inserted to itsfull depth therein. The operation of this device is as follows: Thestandard 20 is inserted in its socket 21 so that it stands erect. Theapples are then placed in the tray, the paper 23 is set over the applesand pressed upon the spikes 19 so that the paper is thus held over theapples. Then the barrel is inverted over the tray, and is pressed downthereon. Then the operator holds the standard 2O with one hand, and thebarrel Y with the other, and reverses the parts in the position shown inFig. 6. Then the trayA can be pressed down so as to force the apples andthe paper into close contact With the head of the barrel, and then theWhole device may be removed by means of the standard 20.

The employment of the sheet of paper 23 in packing a barrel of apples isimportant, and the employment of the spikes 1S) on the tray holds thepaper firmly in place while the layer of apples is being placed againstthe head of the barrel.

What I claim is 1. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a trayfor the fruit provided with means for holding a sheet of paper over saidfruit; a standard for said tray; and means for supporting the standardand tray in the erect position.

2. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray; spikesprojecting therefrom for holding a sheet of paper over the fruit in thetray; a standard for said tray; and

means for supporting the standard and tray in the erect position.

3. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray having adepressible rim; a standard therefor; and means for supporting thestandard and tray in the erect position.

4t. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray having aspring-supported rim; a standard therefor; and means for supporting thestandard and tray in the erect position.

5. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray for fruit; andmeans for holding a sheet of paper to said tray and over said fruit.

6. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray for fruit; andspikes extending therefrom for holding a sheet of paper to the tray andover the fruit.

7. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray; a standardtherefor; means for connecting and disconnecting said tray and standard;and means for locking the standard and tray to a receptacle invertedover the tray and standard, When the tray is adjacent to the bottom ofthe receptacle.

8. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray having adepressible rim; a standard therefor; and means for locking the standardand tray to a receptacle inverted over the tray and standard, When thetray is adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle.

9. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray having aspring-supported rim; a standard therefor; and means for locking thestandard and tray to a receptacle inverted over the tray and standard,when the tray is adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle.

10. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a substantially ovaltray; a standard therefor having a block substantially in a verticalplane passing through the longer axis of said oval; and means forlocking the standard and tray to a receptacle inverted over the tray andstandard, When the tray is adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle.

1].. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a substantially ovaltray having a depressible rim; a standard therefor having a blocksubstantially in a vertical plane ilo passing through the longer axis ofsaid oval;

and means for locking the standard and tray to a receptacle invertedover the tray and standard, when the tray is adjacent to the bottom ofthe receptacle. Y

12. In a fruit packing device, the combination of a tray having adepressible rim; a standard therefor; a ring carrying said rim; studscarried by said support and fastened through said ring; and springscarried by said ring for pressing the same'upward.

13. In a fruit packing device, the combin nation of a tray; a Standardtherefor, guides on one of the parts adapted to engage zt poition of theother part; and a latch for fastening the two parts together.

14. In a fruit packing device, the combination of atray; a standardtherefor; guides on one of the parte; a Wedge on the other part adaptedto tit in the guides; and a latch for fastening the two parts together.

l5. In :t fruit packing device, the combination of it tray; and adepressible rini 'oi` said tray.

16. In 'a fruit packing device, the combi- Said tray.

FRANKLIN B. PEASE. lVitnesses z H. L. OSGOOD, l D. GURNEE.

